This week Coup de Coeur celebrated the holidays at the Upper East Side’s most fashionable new wine bar, Felice, before it opened to the public! We presented our ‘Top Gift Picks’ for the season (listed below), which guests could order and reserve at the party.

Coup de Coeur’s Top Gift Picks:
- SYLA Designs stylish bikinis and resort wear 
- Girard-Perregaux’s Swiss-made timepieces
- Men’s accessories by rock star designer Duncan Quinn
- Cozy winter warmers from the West Village latest Bleeker Street boutique, Sucre
- SURevolution’s artisan-made home decor and jewelry pieces
- A donation to the worth cause Operation Smile
- Golden jewels from gorgeous line ASHA
- A package from the fabulous Antonio Prieto salon including a blow-out and Kerastase products/treatments
- Blade’s vibrant floral designs
- Men’s and women’s leather moccasins from up-and-coming brand Kuyban

Felice co-hosted the night, offering their fantastic house red wine, white wine and prosecco to the party-goers. The wine bar is the hottest new spot for drinks or dinner in the area (chef Simone Parisotto brings along the secrets of the magnificent Sant Ambroeus kitchen secrets), with a gorgeous interior designed by Robert McKinley (of Gold Bar, Cain and PM fame), who created a warm environment infused with both traditional and modern Italian design elements.

 

Henri Bendel sponsored the gift bags, which also included some of our favorite items – all perfect holiday gifts – such as Alison Rafaele makeup, Qi Cashmere gloves, Scensoir perfumes, Roger and Gallet soaps, DeNeila lingerie, and Altereco chocolates. 

  
Duncan Quinn’s gift presentation

If you are interested in ordering or learning more about any of our gift picks, email info@coupdecoeurny.com.

Stylish in Seattle

The only major US city I hadn’t yet visited was Seattle, so my Thanksgiving trip there was met with anticipation. Many misconceptions exist about this Pacific Northwest metropolis, including that it is constantly raining and that it lacks a stylish community. I was pleasantly surprised by both the weather and the shopping, not too mention the delightfully friendly residents and the thriving restaurant scene. Be sure to check out the Seattle Art Museum, which houses everything from Warhol prints to Native American costumes and the Pike Place Market with its seemingly endless supply of seafood, produce, flowers and gifts….oh, and the original Starbuck’s in case you would like to know where your $5 latte originated.

What to Wear
The rainfall may be exaggerated, but the clouds and overcast sky are not, so bundle up if you are visiting in fall or winter. Wear layers, bring lots of cashmere and wool and sport a hat (Amanda and I love Anna Kula for women and Borasalino for men!). The days of perennial plaid and Birkenstocks are thankfully gone, and a casual cool vibe has taken their place. Jeans are acceptable almost everywhere, though many restaurants encourage a jacket for men at dinner. There is a rock n’ roll vibe still prevalent on the streets (not surprising from the city that spawned grunge), but the young fashionable people around town have mixed their Salvation Army with duds from Barneys and high-end boutiques, so your favorites from H&M are just as at home here as your prized Balenciaga pieces are.

 

Where to Shop
The up-and-coming neighborhood of Belltown has the most energy and a plethora of cool boutiques (the feeling is a mix of gritty and charming a la the Lower East Side), the most fabulous of which is, hands-down, Polite Society. Owner Eric Akines’ gorgeous spot carries a highly edited but bountiful collection of clothing, accessories, antiques and home decor from across the globe. Beyond the selection, the merchandising and presentation are wonderful – a mix of industrial, luxe and vintage. Women will appreciate Eric’s keen eye for emerging Copenhagen brands such as Baum und Pferdgarten and  By Malene Birgir and revel in the sophisticated styles of Paris’ Afshin Feiz and London’s Jenny Packham. Men can choose from favorites like Alessandro Dell’Acqua and Armand Diradourian or seek out lesser know and emerging designers such as Munich’s Hannes Roether. I picked up a stunning yellow chartreuse silk Malene Birgir blouse and an ultra-chic glazed croc-embossed travel wallet form Australia’s Catherine Manuell Design.
Polite Society, 1924 First Avenue, Seattle, 206-441-4796, shoppolitesociety.com.

- Lucia Marcelle Tait

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